Covid inquiry report ‘overlooked the specific needs’ of clinically vulnerable people

The first report into the UK’s response to the Covid pandemic has “missed significant issues faced by clinically vulnerable (CV) families”, states an organisation which has given evidence to the public inquiry.

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry published its first report this month setting out its findings and recommendations.

Clinically Vulnerable Families (CVF), a voluntary support organisation, says that while the report “addresses many critical areas” its “focus on general preparedness overlooked the specific needs and challenges of CV people”.

CV individuals are those who have a weakened immune system and a reduced ability to fight infections due to chronic illness such as Aids, cancer, diabetes, and severe asthma; or from receiving treatments for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, and stem cell or organ transplants.

According to CVF, the report failed to consider the lack of “tailored guidance for CV families”, “insufficient availability of appropriate PPE for home use”, and “inadequate mental health support”.

As a result “CV households had to navigate the crisis alone, compounding their stress and isolation”, and incur additional costs to keep themselves safe.

In a witness statement to the inquiry, Lara Wong, founder of CVF, wrote: “Such individuals not only faced but continue to face greater risks to their lives than any other category of person and as such any planning for future pandemics and/or consideration of the public health services needs to do so with the impact on the clinically vulnerable at the forefront of their plans.”

An ongoing lack of awareness about the needs of the clinically vulnerable also means that they continue to face risks and abuse.

According to CVF, 98 percent of CV people “feel healthcare is unsafe”; 82 percent have lost work due to “high Covid risks”; 65 percent of mask users have received abuse; and one in five CV families have had to withdraw their children “from unsafe schools”.

CVF is campaigning to have clinically vulnerable people recognised in the Equality Act and says the inquiry must broaden its scope to consider the impact on CV communities as it progresses through its subsequent stages.

“Ignoring their plight risks repeating the same mistakes in future health crises,” says CVF.

CVF is a “core participant” in Module 3 of the Inquiry and is represented by Kim Harrison of Slater and Gordon lawyers.

On Wednesday 24 July CVF will hold an online meeting where people in clinically vulnerable households can meet the campaign’s legal team from Doughty Street Chambers.

The event is an opportunity to find out more about what can be done to “ensure that everyone can ‘learn to live with Covid’, without leaving any section of society behind”, says CVF.

See clinicallyvulnerable.org for more information.